Learning disabilities (LDs) are real. They affect the brain's ability to receive, process, store, respond to, and communicate information. LDs are actually a group of neurological disorders, not a single disorder.LD is not the same thing as mental retardation or autism. People with LD are of average or above-average intelligence and do not have any major sensory problems such as blindness or hearing impairment or cognitive challenges like mental retardation. Still, they may struggle to keep up with people of the same age in acquiring basic academic skills and in daily functioning. These skills are essential for success in school, work, and life. So it is important to seek help for learning disabilities. How can you tell if someone has a learning disability? One sign of a learning disability is a distinct gap between a person's level of expected achievement and what he actually is achieving. But LDs affect every person differently. And they differ at various stages of development. LDs can range from mild to severe. And sometimes people have more than one learning disability. In addition, about one-third of people with LD also have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD). This makes it difficult to concentrate or stay focused on specific tasks. LD may also affect a person's social-emotional skills and behavior. But having LD does not mean you are lazy or that you have a behavioral disorder.Learning disabilities can affect a person's ability in the areas of:
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Spelling
Reasoning
Mathematics
See the chart below for specific types of learning disabilities and related disorders.What causes learning disabilities? Experts aren't exactly sure what causes learning disabilities. In fact, there is often no apparent cause for LD. LD may be due to:
Heredity. Often learning disabilities run in a family. People with LD may have parents or other relatives with similar difficulties.
Problems during pregnancy and birth. An illness or injury during or before birth may cause an LD. Drug and alcohol use during pregnancy, low birth weight, lack of oxygen, and premature or prolonged labor may also lead to an LD.
Incidents after birth. Head injuries, poor nutrition, and exposure to toxins such as lead can contribute to LD.
LD Terminology
Disability
Area of difficulty
Symptoms include trouble with:
Example
Dyslexia
Processing language
Reading, writing, and spelling
Letters and words may be written or pronounced backwards
Dyscalculia
Math skills
Computation, remembering math facts, concepts of time and money
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
- Writing
- Spelling
- Reasoning
- Mathematics
See the chart below for specific types of learning disabilities and related disorders.What causes learning disabilities? Experts aren't exactly sure what causes learning disabilities. In fact, there is often no apparent cause for LD. LD may be due to:- Heredity. Often learning disabilities run in a family. People with LD may have parents or other relatives with similar difficulties.
- Problems during pregnancy and birth. An illness or injury during or before birth may cause an LD. Drug and alcohol use during pregnancy, low birth weight, lack of oxygen, and premature or prolonged labor may also lead to an LD.
- Incidents after birth. Head injuries, poor nutrition, and exposure to toxins such as lead can contribute to LD.
LD Terminology